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Which one is the most spectacular: Mount Pilatus, Mount Tilsis or Mount Rigi?

Hello

We will stay 8 days in Lauterbrunnen

The Schilthorn is on our list :)
Jungfraujoch is too pricey....

Would it make sense to go to either Mount Pilatus, Mount Tilsis or Mount Rigi?
Is one of the 3 options a must-see or is that really too similar to the Schilthorn??

Which one is the most SPECTACULAR?

It might be complicated / long to get to any of the 3 mounts from Lauterbrunnen but that would be an opportunity to visit another area.. (we would have the Swiss half-fare card + Berner Oberland pass)

What do you think? :)

Thanks a million :)

Murielle

Posted by
161 posts

You are sure to get MANY opinions on this topic!
I suggest looking at a few youtube videos to preview each.

Pilatus has the largest infrastructure at the top, and great views. You can go up one side and down the other (by transport) for varied scenes.

I would rate Titlis as better view overall + you can disembark at the midway point of Truebsee for a circular hike around the lake.
Reflected mountains in the lake are primo.

Rigi is great for a variety of family hikes and wonderful ways to reach it. But I would say the least impressive of these 3. That said, it feels the most "homey." (Did you know that there is a complete military barracks contained within Rigi?)

Posted by
6277 posts

We only did Rigi. The boat ride was spectacular, and the view from the top of Rigi was lovely. If it matters, the entire trip was covered by our Swiss Travel Pass. Maybe Rigi is partially covered by the Swiss Half Fare, while the others may not be. Might be worth checking.

I thought the Schilthorn view and experience was quite different from Rigi.

Posted by
78 posts

Woww thanks a lot! Exactly the answers I am looking at :)

I am not crazy about touristic places, being honest with you (but I know.. I know I chose the most touristic place in Swizterland ah ah!) but I would love to see one of the 3 other mounts, especially if there are different from the Schilthorn.

Posted by
17168 posts

It is not only about the view from the top; the the journey and the activities on offer are an important part.

Starting with views, I love the views over the lake from Rigi. I assume Pilatus has similarly beautiful lake views, just from a different angle. I haven’t been on Titlis since skiing there more than 50 years ago, and I did not reach the top on that trip. But I don’t think one can see the lake from there.

Activities adventures, and the journey:

Titlis probably has the most variety if activities, including adventurous ones. But you may pay extra for certain choices.*** The journey is a simple one by train, and the easiest from Lauterbrunnen.

https://www.titlis.ch/en

For Pilatus, you can take the cogwheel train from Alpnachstad, reached by train from Interlaken Ost. This would be strictly a mountaintop visit ( similar to Schilthorn), unless you choose to ride the lifts down to Kriens, stopping at the Frakmuntegg Adventure Park on the way. Then return to Lauterbrunnen from Luzern.

https://www.pilatus.ch/en/

Rigi offers the most variety in terms of the journey—-train to Luzern, boat to Vitznau, cogwheel train to the summit, back down to Rigi Kaltbad by train (or walk), steel cablecar down to Weggis, and boat back to Luzern to catch the train back to Lauterbrunnen. Hiking is the main activity here, not ropes courses and cliff walks. But you have that beautiful view over the lake. And a spa opportunity at Rigi Kaltbad.

https://www.rigi.ch/en

There are different travel times and different costs involved in each, so check all those before you decide, so you don’t get an unwelcome surprise. Note that the Rigi roundtrip (boat, cogwheel train, and cablecar) are all fully covered with a Swiss Pass, but not with a Berner Oberland Pass. The BO Pass will cover your train as far as Luzern.

Your Half Fare card will give you 50% off everything in the way of transport, but not extra activities.

*** Here is the price list for Titlis activities and lifts, including applicable discounts:

Posted by
78 posts

Oh and I forget to mention. We are hikers so if there are hikes in one of the 3 options, that could be a + :)

Posted by
78 posts

Wowww thanks a million! And I totally agree with you. I think we would enjoy a bit of hiking too and not just enjoy a view and then go back right away to Lauterbrunnen :) (what you mention about Pilatus: strictly a mountaintop visit)

I had a feeling that Titlis was a bit more complicated to reach from Lauterbrunnen. Will double-check then :) I heard it was expensive to go to Titlis, as is the case for Jungfraujoch...

Rigi: The journey seems complicated but really exciting: train to Luzern, boat to Vitznau, cogwheel train to the summit, back down to Rigi Kaltbad by train (or walk YESSSSSSS! GREAT IDEA!), steel cablecar down to Weggis, and boat back to Luzern to catch the train back to Lauterbrunnen. Could be agood option espcially because you say the view are similar from Pilatus (different angle but similar)

I read that it was less touristy too :)

thank you so much <3

Posted by
17168 posts

Excellent! I should have mentioned the Mark Twain Discovery trail. My husband did that from Weggis last September with our daughter (while I was taking the grandchildren to Luzern).

The trail is named for Mark Twain because he spent a night or two on Rigi Kulm and wrote a very funny essay about it—-something to do with missing the sunrise they came to see. I believe it is in “A Tramp Abroad” and possibly online somewhere.

It will be a long day but a very memorable one,

Posted by
78 posts

Oh now I know why they call it that way! :) Thanks :)

Yes 10 kms hike + 5h train Lauterbrunnen / lucern return trip + all the other boats, trains, cogwheel ah ah! A LONG DAY! Will skip visiting Lucern I think for this specific day :)

Posted by
161 posts

This sound like an excellent plan. I have hiked many different trails on Rigi AND visited the military barracks which are completely hidden inside (by tour weekly/monthly).
And Arth-Goldau (at the bottom on one side) has a zoo, established in the site of a massive avalanche. Worth a visit!

Posted by
5349 posts

There are major altitude differences between the peaks, which gives each a unique experience. Rigi and Pilatus is about 6-7,000 feet, and Titlus, Schilhorn, and Jungfraujoch are in the 10,000 feet range. Each has its own personality, and given the weather variables, can be much different experiences. If you have a great, clear morning, go for it, as you never know when rain and cloudy weather are coming in, and there's no point going up to a summit in a blanket of fog. Have a great trip!

Posted by
148 posts

We did Titlis as a day trip from Lucerne a few years ago, and to this day it is one of the most spectacular days I have ever experienced.

It was winter so very snowy, and a perfect sunny day with clear skies. I have never seen scenery like that, although I hope to at least match it on our upcoming trip to Zermatt and the BO region of Switzerland in September.

I highly recommend Titlis as a fantastic day. Back then we were a couple and had two late teen/early 20s boys and we all absolutely loved it.

Posted by
78 posts

Wowww now I want to see all of them ah ah! Initially Tilsis was my favorite option but then I found out there were other options ah ah! I like the fact that Rigi offers hiking trails. Not sure about Tilsis?

Thanks for your reply :)

Posted by
5349 posts

Regarding hiking trails- this is Switzerland. The Swiss are born hikers and I have seen hiking trails around each peak I've visited in this country.
Sometimes it's easier to come down a little in elevation (using the gondola) so you're not hiking in snow. This is what we did one August on Mt Titlus, got off by the lake ( name?) and hiked back down into Engelberg. Even tho downhill, it took us twice as long as the sign posts, about four hours. It was spectacular !
Oh, a warning- don't trust the sign posts for the time each hike takes. The joke was, that how fast it takes a Swiss grandmother. Double that for the rest of us who didn't grow up on Swiss mountains! Enjoy!

Posted by
78 posts

Can I stay there 2 months ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? So many things to do and so little time.

I thought 8 days would be great in the Lauterbrunnen area but everyday I see another incredible option ah ah!

I will check hikes around Tilsis for sure :)

I am seeing a lake called Truebsee. Might be the lake you are referring to. Will also check All trails

thanks :)

Posted by
78 posts

OMG Lauterbrunnen to Engelberg is 3h30 by train :(
7h total during the day
Impossible if we want to hike there :(

I will keep it for the next trip to Switzerland (We would hike around lake Lucern, Fronalpstock, Limmernsee etc..)
We would thus go there too

Tilstis is out :(